Trimming The Dog At Wal-Mart (pic included)

Do you ever wonder what people are thinking when they do what they do? I do. Constantly.

 

Yesterday we went to WalMart to go pick up some things, and when we came out- it was raining. We loaded up our treasures and got in the truck. Crystal was driving, I was in the passenger seat, and she got a phone call. Since she was on the phone, I sat there and was looking around and saw a dog across the parking lot.

 

It wasn't so interesting that I saw a dog, what was interesting is that there were two ladies that were grooming the dog right there in the parking lot, in the rain. Now, in the picture you can't see it very well, but there are really big tufts of hair that are coming off this dog that are on the ground.

 

Did you get that? In the parking lot of a store, in the rain, people were grooming their dog and leaving the shavings on the ground.

 

What is the world coming to? I was surprised that they weren't wearing their pajamas like other gems I see at the Walmart. (That's right. I'm one of those rare people who think that you shouldn't wear bedclothes in public)

 

Here's the deal- I'm all in to 'freedom' and all that stuff. I think that we should have a semblance of openness and acceptance, but isn't there something to be said for social norms? Have we become a society of pajama wearing dog groomers who don't hold doors for people anymore?

 

If you're like me, you probably think that what you do is acceptable, if you didn't you probably wouldn't do it. But let me challenge that for a moment.

 

If what you are doing is annoying or inconveniencing someone else, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it.

 

Is there something inherently evil about grooming a dog? No. But who cleans up the hair? Is that the best place for it?

 

Who knows- maybe I'm off on this one. Its possible that I'm a social tyrant that thinks that people should be more thoughtful of others and think about how their actions affect people. In a world that is getting larger, with more people, I think that we need to work on getting along a bit better.

 

Sure, we do not have to be overly concerned with every last action that we do in fear of offending someone, but lets keep it real. There are, or at least there used to be, societal norms of acceptable behavior that most people adhered to. Speak when spoken to. Smile back. Hold a door. Pick up your trash. Wait your turn. Those types of things.

 

Reflect on that today. Maybe you've got an annoyance that is churning the stomachs of the world that you should stop. Don't be prideful of it. Allow the Lord to help you today to not annoy the world.

 

There is nothing wrong with being too polite.

 

There's the rant for the day.

 

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

I Figured Out How to Pay For The Gas Increase

Its March 2011, and gasoline prices have gone up about 15% in the last month or so. Its a bit of a jump. For us, because we own a gas-hog- it translates to about 60 dollars more per month for our gasoline bill.

 

I'm not really excited about it. It is what it is. There is nothing that I can do to change the price- all I can do is find a way to cut something else out of the budget.

 

I found it.

 

We ditched extended cable and the DVR yesterday and its going to save us about 75 dollars a month. Its not the only reason we got rid of it, but it sure will help. Frankly, we find that when we have less to watch on television, we watch less television. Interesting concept.

 

I want you to understand that I'm not saying that I'm not going to be watching the glowing box in my living room anymore, but what I am saying is that in addition to saving a bit of money, an added benefit is less watching of the box in our home.

 

I think that alot of the stuff that comes across that thing is pure garbage, and that's just what I get from watching advertisements for shows I don't even watch.

 

Listen, I'm not saying that you're a bad person for watching TV or that you're in danger of the pit fires of hell for doing so. I will say that like many things in our lives, even though it may be OK for us to do something, it may not be the most beneficial. Only you can make the call on that one.

 

There is something powerful in giving up something that you desire. When you do it, you begin to find what is truly important in your life and what things you value. Sure, maybe its not TV for you, maybe its something else.

 

Here's the deal- God wants to be numero uno in our lives everyday. Anytime we allow something else to get between us and him its bad. The best thing that we can do to ensure our relationship with Him is to remove those obstacles that keep us from fully serving him.

 

Reflect on that today. Maybe there is something you need to give up. Figure it out and do it. Watch what happens.

 

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What Is Up With Ol' Charles Sheen?

If you read the blog I'll assume you read the news. Over the past week or so you've probably caught a glimpse of Charlie Sheen and his apparent downward spiral.

 

I haven't gone out of my way one time to read or watch anything about Charlie Sheen. I've just soaked it up along the way. I was running on the treadmill at the gym last week and they showed an interview on CNN.

 

Yes, that's right, you heard it correctly. On CNN.

 

Now the breaking news isn't upheaval in Libya, its the breakdown of a guy who pretends to be someone else for a living.

 

The whole thing is a bit perplexing. Why does this story even get on the news. It doesn't even seem like news to me. Sure, the part about how he makes two million dollars an episode for some TV show that he's on is a bit interesting, but past that, not much. I've never even watched the show.

 

Here's what I think the draw is- most people do not want to even come close to facing inadequacies in their personality. Because of this, they are drawn to other people's issues and problems as a means to minimize their own issues, and steer clear of any focus on their own need for change and improvement.

 

Did you get that?

 

Its the person that finds the person that is worse off than them to feel better about themselves. Its the "at least I'm not like them" syndrome.

 

The problem with this should be abundantly clear- but let me help you out. Pointing out someone else's smelly breath when your breath stinks still leaves you with stinky breath. If the issues is the eradication of stinky breath, then all who have stinky breath should be encouraged to brush, floss and rinse. Not only those whom we think should. Everyone should.

 

Where are you at this morning? Are you the type that gets more joy out of watching someone else's troubles or are you the type that constantly reflects on your own life and figures out things to work on. I hope and pray you're the second one.

 

If you read my blog at all, you can guess that I'm a guy who emphasises personal choice. It would be odd if God held us accountable to our choices if we were not the ones making them.

 

So what to do? We must choose to not spend our lives trying to feel better about ourselves by finding other people that are worse off than us. God bless Charlie Sheen. He needs prayer and help, but I don't need to spend my days watching 'news' stories about this guy. 

 

Reflect on that today. Pray- "God reveal to me what I need to work on" and watch what happens. 

 

Be blessed

pastor matt 

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

Are You Willing To do Whatever It Takes To Win?

Who doesn't like to win? We all do- right? If given the choice to either win or lose, I would say 99% of us would choose win, and the other 1% would be lying. No one likes to lose. 

Its a common societal norm here in America, to want to win. We teach our kids at a very young age to attempt to win at sports, in school, at board games. Winning is an activity that we pride our selves on. We love to win. 

Here's an interesting flip-side to the winning equation- someone has to lose. Either indirectly or directly, when we win, typically someone else loses. Because we know that- often we begin not by trying to win, but by ensuring that our opponent will lose. We know if we can avert their win before the competition, our chances to be victorious increase. 

Take this chap from Philly- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110301/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_crime_pizza he decided to insert mice into his rival pizza competitors shops to try and put them out of business. 

Seriously?

I can picture it now- He and his fellow conspirators sitting around thinking about the next big move for the pizza shop. One person suggests extra cheese, one chimes in and says to offer bread sticks. "No way" The owner says. "we're going to infest their shops with mice".

Wow. 

The truth is that many of us can identify with the mouse man. We too have wanted to win so bad we have thought of less than honorable ways to achieve the win. Either in sport or in pizza, we too may have thought of ways to ensure our victory at what ever cost. 

This should not be so my brethren. 

Winning is what it is. But when we want to win so bad we are willing to break established rules, we dishonor ourselves and God. The Bible talks some about sport indirectly with verses such as 1 Cor 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runnersrun, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize".

Prizes are good. Winning is good, but winning at the expense of breaking the rules, or being dishonorable is truly not a win at all. 

Reflect on that today. Push to win, but realize that those who consistently win are those who work harder, have more discipline and don't quit. Its rarely the people that for a way to go around or over. Like they old saying goes- winners never cheat and cheaters never win. 

Win today. But do it the right way. You don't have to infest your opponent with mice to win. 

Be blessed

pastor matt

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog

What I Learned From My 7 Year Old Yesterday

I typically don't like to use the blog as a means to grandstand my kids, but indulge me for a minute today. This is good stuff.

 

My daughter is 7. She's a wonderful little child. She's kind and warm. She loves people. She's obedient. She's everything that you would want in a daughter.

 

She's probably like a lot of other kids. She likes Hannah Montana. She likes to draw. She rides her bike. She bounces on her pogo stick. She's a ton of fun.

 

I take great pride in being her father. I'm proud of who she is and what she does. Its my hope and prayer that she continues to grow into who God is making her. So far, its pretty wonderful.

 

I was amazed at her yesterday.

 

I can't recall where I was coming from or what I had been doing, but I came up the stairs, and she was sitting on the couch in the living room reading the Bible. Not a kids Bible- the comparative study bible I have that is 4 inches thick.

 

"What are you doing?" I inquired.

 

"Reading the Bible" She said, not even looking up.

 

I was impressed. She's only been reading for a few years and here she is engrossed in the most profound book in the history of humanity.

 

I couldn't help myself- I asked her why she was reading the Bible and she said "I decided I want to try to read the whole Bible in a year".

 

She's 7.

 

Now I'm not sure if she'll do it. My guess would be that she'll get into Leviticus and give up like we all do. But this is what impressed me the most- she was attempting something great and something that wasn't easy. It made me question my own apathy and lack of motivation in certain areas of my life. If my 7 year old can start something, shouldn't I?

 

I'm sure you struggle with motivation sometimes. We all do. But here's why I'm sharing this today- I want you to understand that if my 7 year old can venture to do something great with no one pushing her, I think we can too.

 

The problem is not the idea. Its the putting of the action behind it.

 

Don't allow yourself to succumb to laziness and apathy today. Fully engage in those motivations that come into your head. Don't allow doubt and disbelief to keep you from greatness.

 

If a 7 year old can get it done, I think we can.

 

be blessed

pastor matt

 

ps. I asked her later what she read and she said Genesis 1-4. She was able to articulate the story of Adam and Eve with great accuracy!

Posted via email from Faith and Victory Church Blog